(FLINT, Mich., June 4, 2018) – Enrollment is underway for YouthQuest, an enrichment program that helps area students beat summer boredom while preparing them for the next school year.
“Many students experience learning loss during the summer, especially when it comes to reading and math,” said Cheryl Adkins, program director of YouthQuest, which is administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. “One way to mitigate this ‘summer slide’ is to engage youth with fun activities that incorporate hands-on and experiential learning.”
According to Adkins, YouthQuest’s summer program offers high-quality activities and services that encourage the exploration of new interests in the areas of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), and promotes academic achievement, physical fitness, youth leadership and volunteerism.
This year’s program will also place a special emphasis on building reading skills by providing students with daily reading time and books to take home in the evenings and on weekends.
For younger students, the elementary program will run Mondays through Thursdays at the following sites, times and dates:
- Carman-Ainsworth School District (Grades K-5): At Randels Elementary, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. June 18-Aug. 2. No program July 2-5. This site will also accept students from Dillon, Dye and Rankin elementary schools.
- Flint Community Schools (Grades K-6): Brownell STEM Academy, Doyle-Ryder, Durant Tuuri-Mott, Eisenhower, Holmes STEM Academy, Neithercut, Pierce and Potter elementary schools. These sites will run 11:30-3 p.m., July 9-Aug. 9.
- International Academy of Flint (Grades K-6): Noon to 4:30 p.m., July 9-Aug. 9
Enrollment is now open to students who attend the aforementioned schools. If space allows, registration will extend to all elementary students who live in Flint, regardless of where they attend school. Priority will be given to students currently attending school at each building. Families can register online at www.yquest.org or call (810) 600-1422.
Summer on the Road
For middle and high school students, YouthQuest offers Summer on the Road – which takes the preteens and teens on excursions throughout the state to promote college and career readiness.
In addition to water park visits and movie days, students will learn about financial literacy at JA Finance Park; explore different career paths as they visit Baker College of Flint and Genesee Career Institute; and cap things off with a trip to Toronto, Canada.
Summer on the Road will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 25 through Aug. 3 at Flint Southwestern Academy. There will be no program June 29, July 4-6 or July 27. The trip to Toronto will take place Aug. 13-15.
Enrollment is now open to students entering grades 7-12 at International Academy of Flint and Southwestern Classical Academy. If space allows, registration will extend to all students who live in Flint, regardless of where they attend school.
Families must register in-person at one of the following sites: Durant-Tuuri-Mott Elementary, Holmes Elementary, International Academy of Flint, Northwestern High School, Potter Elementary, Southwestern Classical Academy or the YouthQuest Main Office at 519 S. Saginaw St., Flint.
For more information, or to download a registration form, visit www.yquest.org.
About YouthQuest
YouthQuest is a high-quality, research-based afterschool program offering educational and enrichment activities that engage young minds. Available at 16 sites in the city of Flint and Genesee County, YouthQuest serves 2,000 students in grades K-12 each year. The program is administered by the Genesee Area Focus Fund, a supporting organization of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. For more information, visit www.yquest.org.